Gooseberry Crumble

At some point today I am going to scroll through Google images and post examples of some very hot footballers playing in this years world cup!! Englands Mason Mount for one (such a pornstar name )...

Jacqueline White, an American actress from the golden age of Hollywood, celebrates her 100th birthday today! I need to check again later but there hasn't been much mention of her on social media, twitter in particular and no happy birthday messages on twitter for her 99th birthday last year. A few mentions of her turning 100 but not as far as I can tell from authoritative accounts as such. I am slightly entertaining speculation that she may have died off radar. I hope not- but anyway as far as I know she is still alive so

On this day one year ago one of the most important figures in 20th century musical theatre , Stephen Sondheim ,died aged 91.

The one and only Tina Turner celebrates her 83rd birthday today. Birthday greetings to the iconic singer.

On this day ten years ago in 2012, English football player and manager Dave Sexton died aged 82. He is notable for leading Chelsea in 1971 as manager to their first ever European cup. He managed Chelsea between 1967-1974, Queens Park rangers from 1974-1977 and Manchester United between 1977-1981.

Retired American actress and widow of Bing Crosby - Kathryn Crosby , celebrates her 89th birthday today. She went by the work and stage names of Kathryn Grant or Kathryn Grandstaff.

Ooh looks like somebody might have been taking notice of my hints about Lee Majors likely health and his sudden disappearance from his wifes social media!

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-11351469/Mollie-King-gives-birth-baby-girl-fianc-Stuart-Broad.html Mollie King, formerly a member of british pop band The Saturdays and her fiance cricketer Stuart Broad, have become parents to a baby daughter Annabella.

On this day 17 years ago in 2005, american actor and comedian Pat Morita , died aged 73. His biggest and best known roles were playing Matsuo in US sitcom Happy Days, the Karate master Mr Miyagi in the successful Karate Kid series of films and Captain Sam Pak in hit sitcom M.A.S.H . Pat Morita battled alcoholism all his adult life and died of kidney failure after suffering a urinary tract and gallbladder infection.

Former England cricketer and now current member of the House of Lords Ian Botham celebrates his 67th birthday today.

On this day 15 years ago in 2007 ,William Tallon- a steward and member of the Queen Mothers staff at Clarence House, died aged 72. Better known as Billy Tallon or by his nickname backstairs Billy. Born in County Durham his family moved to Coundon in Coventry when he was one after falling on hard economic times in the North east. After leaving school Billy had just begun his training as a jeweller in Leamington Spa. But on the first day of his apprenticeship he received a letter from the controller of the Household (ancient Royal administrative position) containing a traval warrant to Buckingham Palace and a form to be completed. Five years of writing to the royal household for work had paid of for this ardent and admiring royalist. His first job in the royal household was junior assistant at Easter Court in Windsor aged just 15 in 1951. Later he was moved to Buckingham Palace to work Infact he was supposed to join the young Queen Elizabeth ll on her commonwealth tour in 1953/1954 but instead had to fulfil his national service obligations with the RAF. After Billy completed national service he asked the Queen Mother if he could come and work for her at her household in Clarence house. She agreed and he remained working for her until her death in 2002. In 1978 he was promoted to steward and page of the backstairs. He was on duty from early in the morning until the Queen Mother went to bed.Billy is thought to have been the only member of the Queen Mother's servants who could enter her private rooms without knocking first. Openly gay in his social circle (as were a number of the Queen Mothers staff) , Billys partner of over 30 years was Reginald Wilcox, a footman at Buckingham Palace who subsequently was a valet in Paris for the Duke of Windsor between 1957-1959. before joining the Queen Mothers household in 1960 were he met Billy his future partner. As an aside I have little doubt that the Queen Mother pumped Reginald Wilcox for juicy gossip and inside information on the Windsors! Wilcox served the Queen Mother her morning tea on her 100th birthday. On that very same evening Tallon learnt that his partner Reginald was dying. A week later he died aged 66 leaving Billy devastated. He arranged what is described as a 'magnificent funeral ' for his late partner. It is reported that after Reginalds death and also feeling sidelined as the Queen Mother increasingly turned to younger members of her staff for personal and nursing care, that Billy sank into a depression. Roughly 18, 19 months later he was again to be left heartbroken when the Queen Mother died in 2002. He left Clarence House where he had lived for years at its lodge house and moved to a ground floor flat with a garden in Kennington South East London. He was found dead on this day there in 2007 as a result of liver failure. His funeral took place at the Queens Chapel at St James Palace. Actors and Billy's friends Derek Jacobi and Patricia Routledge gave readings at the serwhich was attended by an eclectic mix of royal family members and showbiz friends-Princess Margaret's daughter Lady Sarah Chatto, the then Earl of Snowdon . Phyllis Law, Roy Strong, Keith Barron and none other than EastEnders actress June Brown and Paul O'Grady.

British American actor Maxwell Caulfield celebrates his 63rd birthday today.

On this day 70 years ago in 1952 New Zealand boxer and Olympic gold medallist Ted Morgan died aged 46 from lung cancer .A non smoker , his cancer was suspected to have likely been caused by fumes he inhaled whilst working as a plumber. He won a gold in welterweight boxing at the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam. Impressively he won his gold medal despite having a dislocated knuckle in his left hand throughout the tournament. He was the first athlete from New Zealand to win a gold medal. On this day 42 years ago in 1980, american stage and screen actress, singer and sex symbol Mae West died aged 87. She was known for her lighthearted risqué jokes , comments and double entendre. Her husky delivery of sexually themed witty comments, especially on stage, were legendary but shocking and taboo to many at the time. Her film credits include I'm no angel (1933), My little chickadee (1940), She done him wrong (1933) and Myra Breckinridge(1970) - were she famously had a strong personality clash with her costar Raquel Welch that resulted in Welch throwing shade at Mae West in interviews for decade after Mae had died. Mae often indulged in witty one liners trying to convey a wish of a kind and one of her enduring sayings/quotes is " when I'm good I'm very good but when I'm bad I'm better!" On this day 15 years ago in 2007 british bodybuilder and actor Reg Park died aged 79. The Yorkshireman won the Mr Britain bodybuilding contest in 1949 and went on to win the Mr Universe title three times-1951, 1958 and 1965. His physique was in demand in the movies for a time. He starred in 5 movies, playing Hercules 4 times.

Legendary American tennis player and champion Billie Jean King celebrates her 79th birthday today. American actress Jamie Lee Curtis ,and daughter of Hollywood legends Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh, celebrates her 64th birthday today.

On this day in 1999 british raconteur and performer Quentin Crisp died aged 90. Notably effeminate , his most famous work is the film The Naked Civil servant which starred John Hurt. Prior to his somewhat fame and life in the public eye, Quentin worked for decades as a naked still life artists model hence the choice of name for the above film about his life. Openly gay ,the british military declined to let him sign up to help during world war two, exempting him against his wishes on the 'medical grounds ' of sexual perversion. He was not likes by many gay rights activists such as Peter Tatchell after comments Quentin made about aids in the 1980s.

Icelandic singer songwriter and actress Bjork celebrates her 57th birthday today. British professional ice skater and television personality of sorts Daniel Whiston, celebrates his 46th birthday today. He has appeared on every single TV series of Dancing on Ice as a professor skater since the show began. British journalist, magazine editor and royal biographer Tina Brown turns 69 today. She previously edited Vanity Fair magazine and earlier this year released a book about the royal family called The Palace Papers which caused much discussion and commentary!

On this day in 1998 american bodybuilder, weightlifter and Mr Universe 1948 John Grimek died aged 88. He also was Mr America in 1940 and 1941 and was succeeded in his 1948 Mr Universe title by none other than Steve Reeves. He represented America at the 1936 Olympics in weightlifting and finished 9th. Grimeks nickname throughout much of his bodybuilding career was "The monarch of muscledom" and " The Glow". A son of Slovakian immigrants he finished his career in bodybuilding professionally unbeaten.

On this day 16 years ago in 2006 , acclaimed american film director Robert Altman died aged 81. His impressive filmography includes Gosford Park (2001), Mash (1970), Cookies Fortune (1999), The long goodbye (1973), The Player (1992) , Brewster McCloud (1970) and California Split (1974). Altman was nominated for numerous Oscars but it was the honorary one that he was awarded.

Sorry for your loss @msc

The current President of the United States of America Joe Biden celebrates his 80th birthday today.

Emmerdale actress Michelle Hardwick has given birth to her second child. https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emmerdale/a42011835/emmerdale-michelle-hardwick-baby-girl-betty/

Yes he has been out and about a fair bit. Pictured here today with a Merseyside Radio presenter after lunch. https://www.instagram.com/p/ClJ5e32sNbK/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY=

On this day five years ago in 2017, american jazz and gospel singer and actress Della Reese died aged 86. In her later career she was known for playing the role of Tess in strongly religious themed tv drama Touched by an angel which ran from 1994-2003. Her character Tess was a compassionate but straight talking 'angelic supervisor' who often choose and assigned other people who she felt were best suited to guide particular people with problems or in danger of going wayward ,back on to the right path. Initially Della expected the role to be a one off or at least short lived- and it nearly played out that way with the shows shaky state and poor ratings seeing it cancelled after 11 episodes. A strong letter writing campaign by the public however lead to its return and a growing popular success. Dellas showbiz career which began as a singer , achieved its breakthrough in 1959 with her version of the song Don't you know? previously sang in 1952 by Sammy Kaye.

I am currently doing a lot of mental juggling trying to figure ou if I can and if so how I can match or exceed my current unique pick DDP total of 44 unique picks out of the 60 names for my three Crumble Teams. Its a big task and I don't want to say too much/give too much away incase I compromise this mission!!

Oscar winning american actress Jodie Foster celebrates her 60th birthday today.